Fan or Follower

Fan or follower?  I just finished listening to a teaching from Priscilla Shrirer and that was one of the questions she posed.  She also directed me to the question from Jesus.   When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”15 He said to them,  BUT WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?" (Matthew 16:13-15)  I coupled this message with the woman of the week in our "Women of the Bible" study we've been doing.  We are studying the Shulammite woman of Song of Songs.  

This was quite the convicting message.  Some days I am definitely more like a fan than a follower.  And when I look at the Shulammite woman's longing and seeking her lover...I know I fall short of seeking my God that way.  Do I search for Him with all my might?  Does He consume my thoughts and heart.  Or do I like, Priscilla said, not allow Him to inhabit parts of my heart.  Do I keep them like treasures not to be touched.  

The thoughts of the Shulammite woman were consumed with her lover.  Paul tells us in Philippians 4:8And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Who is more true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise then our Lord and Savior?  

In Luke 9:23, Jesus said: Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.   Do we want to truly follow Him?  Then we must give up our own way, put His ways and plans first, meditate on Him, on His Word.  

A fan knows about Jesus.  Knows about God the Father, and the Holy Spirit.  A following knows Him.  Personally.  Seeks Him daily, moment by moment.  A fan attends church, maybe once a week, once in a while.  A fan makes his or her own desires and needs a priority.  A follower looks for fellowship with God and other Christians often.  He spends time with the Lord.  Puts God's plans in front of His own.  

I was convicted in this message.  Sometimes I act more like a fan.  I make idols of other things, like "downtime."  I put my own desires first.  This was a great question that cleaned out my heart.  

I'm so grateful Lord that You ask the tough questions.  I am so grateful that You work with us all the time to bring us upward and onward in the journey with You.  We so often need reminders and some heart sweeping out.  I love how You gently do that with Your probing, poignant questions and messages.  Thank You.  Please keep our walk with You moving forward and our hearts in the right place.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen.

Check your heart today.  

2 Corinthians 13:5   Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.